The Okami Hero: Amaterasu
Arc 5: Eight Serpents
Chapter 5: A Brush with the Dark
[Tuesday19thApril 2281]
[Shie Hassaikai Compound, Corusantu]
Waking up the morning after her heart to heart with Eri had been tougher than Izumi thought. Using her powers so much the previous day, namely Rejuvenation and the Astral Plains Transportation, had drained her body and facing Little Eri's fears and sadness had drained her spirit. Still, she needed to get ready and moving to go over the plan with Ishiko, especially if she was going to keep her promise and ensure today was the last day she and Eri would suffer at the Shie Hassaikai's hands.
Eri, the darling, woke up as bright eyed and bushy tailed as anyone could expect of a five year old in her situation, and she was eager to get the day over with, having full confidence Izumi would keep her promise.
The duo went to the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the day, and while Eri was brushing her teeth, Izumi tapped on Ishiko's vent.
"Morning Izumi, Eri." Ishiko yawned, appearing from around the corner inside the vent and sleepily walking out onto Izumi's hand, "You two sleep well?"
"As well as can be expected. Today is going to be our last day here. Tonight, I'm showing Eri the stars." Izumi said determinedly.
Ishiko's eyes widened a bit; "Today's the last? You're busting out today!? Are you really ready for that?"
"I promised Eri. It WILL be today." Izumi said.
"Well I'm on board with that! You've got your phone and you know how to get to the kitchens to arm yourself and conserve your powers, but you need something else, right? You mentioned needing two things before, and the phone was one. What's the second?" the Poncle asked, "Ooh, it's the key to the restraint, right? The one the dude in the white coat has."
Izumi shook her head, "We'll never get our hands on that. Chronostasis keeps it hidden in his coat and it'll be impossible to swipe it without alerting him." the girl said, before reluctantly revealing her real goal; "I need one of Overhaul's scalpels."
Ishiko frowned, while Eri stopped brushing her teeth, momentarily freezing at the thought of Overhaul's favourite implements of torture. "Okay… you need one of his scalpels. I have no idea why, but now isn't the time to be quibbling over details. So is the plan the same as yesterday with a different target?"
"No, it would be too dangerous." Izumi sighed, "We have to assume the Yakuza discovered the cameras were disabled and have turned them back on, so you'll definitely be recorded if you try to steal one, since they aren't blocked from sight even during the experiments… plus, Overhaul obsessively cleans them after he's done with me and there's no chance he'd miss that he had one less scalpel. He'd discover it immediately, and Eri and I would pay for it."
"So what do we do?" Ishiko asked.
"We need to ensure Overhaul knows he's lost the scalpel, but in such a way that he knows it wasn't stolen by us. We'll pretend to destroy it by accident during the experiments, when in reality..."
"I steal it with Storage." Ishiko finished Izumi's sentence, "But won't Overhaul still punish you? Even if it's an "accident" he'll be pissed that you destroyed a scalpel."
"I'll beg and grovel and swear it was an accident, and that I didn't mean to do it. If he insists on a punishment, I'll beg him to let me take it all instead of him hurting Eri." Izumi said grimly. Eri looked like she was going to protest, but the words died in her mouth the moment Izumi turned to look at her, her emerald eyes full of love and kindness.
Eri couldn't understand why Izumi was so nice to her… it didn't make sense! Why would someone take so much pain for another, especially when they don't know them that well? Eri's own mother wouldn't have done this for her… Eri's mother probably would have enjoyed watching what Overhaul did to her…
Izumi patted Eri's head and stroked her hair; "It's okay Eri, I promised to show you the stars today, and I promised I wouldn't let them hurt you. No matter what they do to me, breaking my promises would hurt more. Be brave, Sweetheart, I'll be your Hero if it's the last thing I do."
Something inside Eri snapped into place… a long forgotten function, one that all Humans possessed, finally began working again. Under the pure love and kindness Izumi was giving Eri, it was impossible for it not to…
So after so many years that she'd forgotten how it felt… Eri smiled.
Eri thought she must look silly… her smile was kind of weak and shaky, and it made her cheeks ache a little since the muscles weren't used to it, but she just couldn't help it. She'd forgotten what it felt like to love… to be loved… to smile…
And Izumi had reminded her.
Izumi took one look at that smile and her face absolutely lit up. Her own smile spread across her face, and streams of happy tears began flowing down her cheeks. She gently pulled Eri into her lap and hugged her softly, then kissed her cheek; "You have a wonderful smile Eri… I'll have to make sure and give you lots of reasons to keep smiling, so I can keep looking at it." she said lovingly.
Eri's smile turned bashful, but she nodded and hugged Izumi with all the love her little body had in it. Ishiko watched the heart-warming scene with her own soft smile, and though she'd never admit it, the Poncle had a fair few happy tears of her own flowing down her face.
After a little while, once Eri and Izumi had fully composed themselves, Izumi told Ishiko the rest of her plan to get one of Overhaul's scalpels. It wasn't a terribly complex plan, but due to the fact Izumi would need to use her powers while being mindful of Overhaul's quirk, the timing for everything had to be extremely specific. The excuses Izumi planned to use on Overhaul, as well as the inevitable grovelling to ensure Eri wasn't hurt, would be humiliating for the older girl, but she didn't have much choice if she was to keep her promises.
With the plan ironed out, Izumi and Ishiko shared a fist bump (which was really just Izumi holding out her fist while the tiny Ishiko jumped and punched it as hard as she could, so Izumi could actually feel the tiny person's fist) and the Poncle returned to the Vents to wait until dinner time, when the plan would start.
For the most part, Izumi's fourth and hopefully final day with the Shie Hassaikai moved along like the rest. They were collected and taken to the kitchen for breakfast, during which Izumi taught Eri how to make pancakes (which Eri was enamoured by) and afterwards, they were returned to their room until lunchtime. In the interim, Izumi continued teaching Eri how to read and write, as well as her basic numbers, while taking several breaks to teach Eri how to play various games.
She didn't show it, but Izumi was nervous. The anticipation for that evening's session in the lab was making Izumi extra jittery, along with the fear that someone would discover her phone while they weren't in the room. New clothes were brought to the girls' room each day, and the towels and sheets were changed too, but none of this ever happened while Izumi and Eri were there. Izumi prayed none of the thugs thought to rummage through her toiletries…
Eri was actually handling things better than Izumi; she didn't seem any different from the previous days, so neither Tengai nor the other Yakuza noticed any change in her demeanour, and thus didn't suspect her.
Then came time for lunch, and Izumi having an experience that would change her forever.
It had started normally; Tengai knocked on their bedroom door before letting himself in and politely asking them if they were ready for Lunch. The girls washed their hands quickly, then obediently followed the Former Buddhist to the kitchens to prepare their lunch.
Upon arriving, Izumi turned to Eri: "Did you want to try something new, or do you want me to make something we've already had?" she asked. Izumi wanted to keep making Eri new foods to expand her horizons, but she also wanted to give her a chance to make her own decisions and enjoy some kind of familiarity.
Eri thought about it for a moment, then quietly asked; "Can we try something new?"
Izumi smiled, "Of course! How about Karaage? It's chicken fried in spices and it's super tasty."
Eri's eyes twinkled and she nodded, though she didn't smile. The little girl didn't feel brave enough to show her smile in front of a member of the Yakuza, even a (relatively) nice one like Tengai. Izumi just patted the girl on the head and got to work preparing the Karaage. She did most of the cooking herself, but made sure to let Eri try her hand at each technique (though Izumi didn't let Eri too close to the hot oil, since it tended to spit).
Their meal was completed and dished up onto a pair of plates, but before either Izumi or Eri could sit down and enjoy, the kitchen door swung open and someone walked in. Eri immediately turned pale and began to shake as she slowly hid behind Izumi. Izumi frowned at the newcomer, eyes narrowing dangerously.
It was a Green Imp.
Tengai looked to the Demon; "What are you doing here? Begone!" he snapped. Apparently the Former Buddhist didn't like sharing space with Demons.
The Green Imp just ignored the Yakuza and stared at Izumi. The paper mask he wore obscured his face, but Izumi could feel his eyes on her, scanning her body like she was a side of beef he was planning to cook.
"Holy shit, it really is you!" the Green Imp said with a laugh, his high-pitched, grating voice sending a shiver up Izumi's spine and making Eri whimper. "To think, you're all grown up! Well, not completely, but close… you became quite a looker..."
The Imp began approaching her, but Izumi snarled; "Stay back!"
"Ha! Just as much fire in you as back then… glad to see I didn't whip it all out of you!"
Izumi's eyes widened. Whip it out of her? No way… this guy was…!?
"Roku-Ju!?" Izumi said, her voice barely above a harsh whisper. Tengai and Eri both flinched, shocked by the sheer depth of hatred in the girl's voice.
The Imp grinned so wide that the edges of his smile could be seen peeking out from the sides of his paper mask; "You really do remember me! Though I guess it's hard to forget the guy that whipped you bloody and stole your Mama's soul! I have a lot to thank you for!" the Imp said cheerfully.
Izumi grit her teeth, desperately trying to keep her cool. If she lost control now, she'd just end up beaten again, and Eri would suffer too. It was so painful… just being in front of the monster that took her Mother's soul hurt like hell, but to know that she was stood before him in the same position she'd been in all those years ago… powerless. All the work she'd put into becoming stronger, into becoming a Hero… it was all useless with the Cursed Band on her. She couldn't defend herself or Eri.
Roku-Ju knew this, and he revelled in it.
"You would not believe how high my star has risen thanks to you! I, a lowly Green Imp, have more respect than even the Black Imps now and it's all because of you! Who'd have thought that the little girl I decided to give a whipping would turn out to be Amaterasu Reborn! Every Brush God you've purified has made me more famous, since I'm known as the only Demon to have not only survived an encounter with you, but also the only one to have beaten you! It's great! I can do pretty much whatever I want so long as I don't piss off Lord Orochi! You're Mother's soul was the last one I stole that I didn't get to snack on! Lord Orochi has let me hunt and keep the souls I steal now, all as a reward for beating you!" Roku-Ju boasted.
Izumi clenched her fists, as a quiet voice whispered to her… it was the same voice that had spoken to her after she'd watched the video of Eri's torture.
"He mocks you… He thinks you powerless… Make him regret it. Make him regret all he's done."
"No!" Izumi thought back, clutching her head as she began to lose her temper. Her eyes were flashing between green and red, making Eri and Tengai watch her worriedly.
Roku-Ju didn't seem to notice however, as now his eyes were on Eri. "Oh, and if it isn't the sweet little sacrifice. How you doing, kid? How do you like knowing that either you or your new best friend is going to end up as Lord Orochi's lunch? How's it feel knowing that if you live, it's because the Sun Goddess doomed the world to save you, by taking your place?"
Eri whimpered and silent tears began to flow from her eyes. Izumi bared her teeth, her eyes taking longer and longer to return to green with each word spoken by the foul Imp.
"He's tormenting her… He's drunk on his own power, using your helplessness to make himself feel stronger… Show him how weak he really is… show him his mistakes!"
"STAY BACK!" Izumi suddenly roared, startling everyone in the room.
The Imp, having been riding the high of having Amaterasu at his mercy, grew angry as he recovered from his fear. The fact her shout scared him made him realise just how much weaker than her he really was; after all, without that Cursed Band, she would have already squashed him like a bug. Angry, but still too afraid to actually try anything against the Sun Goddess, Roku-Ju turned to Eri, hiding behind Izumi's legs.
"Why are you hiding from me, Little Snack? Did you forget what happened last time you hid from me? Maybe you need a good reminder?" the Imp sneered, pulling his flute from his back and menacingly tapping it against his hand; "I don't have your hairbrush this time, but my flute will do… Amaterasu can vouch for how effective it can be on a rebellious little girl, can't you Amaterasu?"
Izumi's blood boiled as she reached a new level of rage. "It was you… the Imp Eri told me about… the one that beat her when she hid in her wardrobe!" she snarled. Her eyes were red now, and they weren't changing back any more.
Roku-Ju flinched at the girl, then sneered at Eri; "Telling tales are we brat? Well then, I think it's time for a reminder!" he stepped forward menacingly, reaching a hand out to grab Eri.
Eri screamed and fell backward, while Izumi fully moved to block the imp from getting to her.
"One more step and I'll kill you!" Izumi roared. Her body was beginning to change now; despite her Divine Powers being sealed, she had somehow slipped into her Demi-God Form, only now with the white fur beginning to slowly blacken at the tips. With every passing second, Izumi's anger and hatred were growing, making the blackness at the tips of her hair, wolf ears, and tail slowly spread.
Tengai was startled, but rather than reprimand Izumi, he turned to Roku-Ju; "Enough of this! Both of these girls are not to be harmed!"
"Shut up!" Roku-Ju screamed, sounding like a wild ape, "I only obey Lord Orochi! If you get in my way, he'll punish you! So long as I don't kill the brats and your boss can still cut them up, I can do what I want!"
The Imp then turned back to Izumi and Eri. Izumi wasn't sure if the stupid Demon was just trying to assert his dominance, or if he genuinely just wanted to hurt Eri, but either way, there was no way she'd let him lay a finger on her!
"Back off!" Izumi demanded, a bizarre masculine echo to her otherwise feminine voice.
Roku-Ju ignored her, moving towards Eri as if Izumi wasn't even there; "I'm going to whip you bloody, you little brat! Then you'll learn who's in charge here!"
"I SAID BACK OFF!" Izumi roared, swiping at the Imp with her claws. She hadn't noticed her transformation yet, she was too enraged and distracted by the Demon and the voice whispering dark things to her.
Roku-Ju had leapt back in surprise, evading Izumi's claws, his fear and anger mixing within him; "H-How dare you defy me! Lord Orochi will punish you! That Overhaul Freak will punish you! They'll order you both beaten bloody for this!" he shrieked.
That threat, and the fact there was a good chance it was genuine, made Izumi pause and step back, a pained expression on her face. She wanted to attack… to kill this Demon, but if she did, who knows what they'd do to her? Or worse; what they'd do to Eri?! Overhaul would hurt her to control Izumi, and if he didn't, then Orochi definitely would. Izumi couldn't do anything…
"You have the power already… it's right there, beneath your skin… you can feel it, the thrumming energy coursing through your veins… let it out. Roku-Ju, Tengai, Orochi, Overhaul… all would fall before your might… just let it out..."
"S-Stop this…!" Izumi whimpered, clutching her head.
Roku-Ju suddenly grinned, interpreting her actions as a sign of submission. Like the petty little creature he was, he used it to push his advantage and once again try to assert himself as Top Dog. "Oh no, you both need to be punished… You don't have the power to stop me, not with your Divine Powers sealed up… So I'll cut you a break… I'll give the brat a nice little whipping to teach her some respect, then give you some of the same as punishment for speaking out against me… accept it, and I'll let you go. Refuse, and I'll beat you both until your backsides are nothing but blood and cuts, then hand you over to Overhaul and Lord Orochi for punishment! So what'll it be? One beating from me, or a whole bunch of punishments from me and the bosses?"
Tengai dearly wanted to say something, but he was ultimately a coward, always hiding behind a shield. He didn't dare risk his own hide for the girls, instead merely averting his eyes and putting his hands together in a hollow prayer. Izumi ignored him; he was just Yakuza Scum after all, her expectations of him had been basically nil anyway.
But Eri's reaction upset Izumi. The little girl was shaking and crying silently, thick streams of tears leaving shining trails down the poor child's cheeks. She wasn't sobbing or making a single sound any more, not even a whimper, and Izumi could see it in her eyes… Eri had given up. She was accepting this new torment as just another thing to endure. She didn't think she could escape it… she didn't think Izumi could save her.
But then, with all her courage, Eri spoke and inadvertently signed Roku-Ju's death warrant.
"P-Please… don't hurt Izumi. She only got in your way because she promised to protect me. The Bad Man's already going to hurt her later, because she took my curse, so please let me take her punishment instead!" Eri begged, coming out from behind Izumi's legs and putting herself between Roku-Ju and Izumi.
Izumi froze, shock and horror overpowering her ability to think or move properly.
"She's sacrificing herself for you..."
Roku-Ju laughed, and without answering or promising Eri that he'd spare Izumi, he grabbed her wrist.
"He stole your Mother's soul..."
Roku-Ju pulled Eri forward.
"He beat you bloody..."
Eri whimpered as she was forced onto her hands and knees.
"He hurt and tormented Eri..."
Roku-Ju waved his flute in Eri's face, cackling as Eri cowered.
"He's going to hurt her again..."
The Imp began to slowly raise his flute.
"She's trying to be brave… to save you..."
The flute went as high as Roku-Ju could raise it.
"Are you not going to save her? Because you're afraid of becoming a Demon?"
Roku-Ju made eye contact with the frozen Izumi, and grinned evilly.
"Why fear becoming a Demon? After all..."
Roku-Ju swung his flute down as hard as he could, aiming for Eri's back.
"...Demons can be Heroes too."
THWACK!
Tengai flinched and Eri shrieked as the sound of bamboo smacking into flesh echoed across the Shie Hassaikai's small kitchen. Eri grimaced, expecting the pain of the blow to flood her any moment, only to realise that Roku-Ju's flute hadn't hit her. She looked up, her eyes widening as she saw her saviour…
Izumi's hand was wrapped around the Demon's flute, having caught the blow before it could land on Eri. The strike, even caught, had been hard enough to break the skin, and Eri hated the sight of the crimson blood flowing out from between Izumi's clenched fingers. But Izumi didn't care… Izumi was different now.
She was in full Demi-God Form, but her hair and wolf features had all turned pitch black. The Divine Markings on her face had darkened from bright scarlet to bloody crimson, and her eyes had gone from simply having red irises, to also having a slit-like black pupil and pitch black sclera. Wisps of black corruption smoke were emerging from her skin, and instead of her Divine Retribution Mirror floating behind her, Izumi now had a simple disk of black iron with no carvings or reflective surface, and spikes along the rim. The red spiritual flames that burned around her mirror had turned purple too, and Eri thought she could hear soft wailing coming from those flames.
The little girl didn't know what to think. The being before her was clearly still her saviour, Izumi… but she looked wrong. Her expression was a mix of fear, anger, hatred, and suffering…
"I-Izumi?" Eri whispered, slowly getting to her feet again while Roku-Ju stared at Izumi's new form with terror.
Izumi's eyes flicked towards Eri, and instantly they filled with warmth; "Eri… are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
Eri shook her head. Being pulled by her arm and pushed onto her knees hadn't felt very nice, but it hadn't hurt her. Izumi sighed with relief; "Thank goodness… Eri, please look away. I don't want you to see this next part..." she said, turning her gaze back to Roku-Ju, who was whimpering and whining in terror.
The Imp shrieked as Izumi's eyes filled with hate again, and he promptly let go of his flute, since he'd been unable to pull it from Izumi's grasp. He immediately backed off and ran for the kitchen door, but Izumi wasn't about to let that happen.
The girl pointed her clawed finger at the door frame and shot a stream of red ink, which upon touching the door, began to fuse it to the frame, leaving it impossible to open without breaking it down, something the physically weak Roku-Ju couldn't manage. Then Izumi began to speak.
"You stole souls for Orochi, and for your own depraved desires."
Roku-Ju turned and tried to shriek a command for her to let him out, or perhaps a threat of retribution. Whatever it was, it died in his throat as a tendril of red liquid shot from Izumi's palm and wrapped around his neck, choking him. Some got in his mouth, and he recognised the coppery taste of blood. Izumi began walking towards the Demon.
"You stole my mother's soul, condemning me to a year of loneliness."
Eri had her eyes closed, as Izumi had asked. This meant she didn't see the next part, where Izumi used the tendril of blood to smack Roku-Ju into the walls and ceiling, smashing the imp against every surface and counter top. Eri didn't see it, but she certainly heard it, along with Roku-Ju's gurgled attempts at asking for mercy.
"You beat me bloody, leaving my back covered in scars."
Tengai watched in horror as Izumi seemed to grow angrier, and throw Roku-Ju hard against the wall beside him, inadvertently making him trip over himself in an attempt to flee. Izumi didn't even seem to notice him as she used her blood tendril to pull Roku-Ju back and then smash him into the wall again and again, making him crack the cheap plaster and concrete that made up the walls. One smash was even enough to knock loose the security camera in the corner of the ceiling, making it land with a crunch on the tile floor.
"You hurt Eri, beating her and tormenting her."
Izumi pulled Roku-Ju away from the wall and smashed him back one last time, before seemingly fusing his flesh to the wall with the same power that she'd sealed the door with. She'd grown bored of using him like a paddle ball, and instead chose to begin tightening her tendril's grip on the Imp's throat, choking him. Her expression wasn't of cruel enjoyment, but of rage and hatred.
"You tried to hurt her again… you made that little girl… no, you made MY little girl feel like she had to sacrifice herself for me!"
Eri felt her heart flutter a bit at those words. It wasn't the first time someone had said that she was theirs… Overhaul did it frequently, calling her "My Asset" among other things… but it felt different. Eri felt joy; she felt like… like she had a Mama again.
"You are going to pay, Roku-Ju."
And Eri DID have a Mama again… and Mama was angry. Roku-Ju was fused to the wall, but Izumi felt that such a restraint wasn't punishing enough, so while still choking him with her blood tendril, she used red ink to create a pair of sharp bones, similar to broken ribs, then stabbed then into Roku-Ju's palms, essentially crucifying him. Roku-Ju screamed and began to beg and plead, but Izumi wasn't interested. She released the technique that kept him fused to the wall, leaving him to dangle from the ribs pinned through his palms.
"I am Amaterasu the Sun Goddess… I am Amaterasu the Demon… I am Amaterasu the Hero… And. I. Am. Angry!"
That last word was spoken with such venom that Eri didn't even think it had been Izumi who said it. A terrifying, masculine echo had been added to Izumi's voice since saving her from Roku-Ju's first strike. Eri didn't mind though; Goddess, Demon, or Hero… none of it mattered so long as it was Izumi, the one who promised to protect her. Izumi, giving in to her most base and negative desires, began to furiously and wildly beat Roku-Ju with his own flute, smacking him all over in a bizarre reversal of their first encounter. Roku-Ju howled and shrieked in pain, just as Izumi had once done, but Izumi didn't let up the assault until finally, the Demon's flute snapped in half. Still furious, but unwilling to stomach looking at Roku-Ju for even a moment longer, Izumi prepared her final technique.
"Suffer for eternity… in a hell of your own making!"
Red Ink spewed forth from Izumi's fingers and coated the Imp. Roku-Ju's howls and screams grew louder and more desperate as slowly, the ink corroded him. He was forced to watch and feel as his entire body was rotted away by the bizarre corrosive ink, starting with his toes and working upward, ensuring he felt every ounce of his torment. Finally, the ink reached his head and his screams ended, along with his life. There was a brief flash of light, signifying the Demon's corrupted soul had returned to the cycle of reincarnation, followed by a few dozen similar lights as the souls he'd eaten were freed, and then there was nothing.
The Green Imp Roku-Ju perished at the hands of the Demonically Corrupted Amaterasu, giving the girl her vengeance for all he had done to her and Eri.
Izumi stared at the spot where the Imp had just been, satisfaction surging through her. Then she promptly fell to her knees and vomited, before sobs racked her. The darkness that had gripped her was gone now, and Izumi immediately lost her Demonic powers, reverting to her normal Human Form.
"W-What have I done!?" Izumi cried. The corruption was gone, but so was all her anger and hate, leaving her with only fear and suffering. Without those negative emotions, strengthened by the corruption, Izumi couldn't bare to think of the acts she'd just committed. She'd tortured someone! A Demon true, and the most evil, foul Demon she'd ever met, but still a living, feeling being! She could have ended him quickly! The Demonic Power she had manifested was easily enough to slay Roku-Ju in an instant, getting her revenge, as well as avenging her mother and Eri, but in her anger, she had drawn out the Imp's suffering.
Izumi felt like a monster… what she'd done weren't the actions of a Hero! She'd acted like a cruel vigilante AT BEST… at worst, she'd been acting like a Villain.
Worst still, she'd enjoyed every moment of it! The screams of the Demon had been like music to her ears! His struggles as he writhed in pain had been more satisfying than the finest 5 star restaurant Sakuya had ever taken her to, the feel of his flesh ripping and tearing and dissolving under her power had been sweeter than ambrosia. And Izumi HATED it! She hated how much she enjoyed it… how much she wanted to keep experiencing it!
"D-Divine One?"
Izumi, still sobbing, turned towards Tengai. The man was watching her fearfully… he was terrified of her… of what she'd become. For a minute, Izumi truly had become a Demon. Her thoughts suddenly moved from Tengai to the other person in the room.
Eri.
Oh god, what would Eri think of her now!? Poor, Sweet Little Eri had been made to listen as she cruelly tortured someone! As she acted like Overhaul! Izumi had even laid claim to Eri like she was just a thing to be owned!
Izumi almost couldn't bring herself to look at the girl… to face the fear that Eri no doubt felt towards her. But she did; Izumi gathered all her courage and slowly turned her face so she and Eri could lock eyes.
Eri was looking back at her, her eyes shining not with fear, but with worry… worry and love. "Izumi!" Eri cried, running towards Izumi and hugging her as tightly as she could. "Izumi! Are you okay? You saved me!"
Izumi had to work damn hard not to break down into fresh sobs, "Oh Eri… what did I do to deserve you?"
Eri didn't really know what that meant, so she just hugged Izumi tightly; "I don't know… but I want to stay with you forever. I love you, Izumi."
Izumi choked back a sob; "I love you too, Eri."
The two girls embraced, and Tengai, realising the danger had passed, relaxed and began searching through his pockets to find his phone so he could report what happened.
Before that could happen however, the door (still sealed shut by Izumi's demonic technique) suddenly began to reshape itself, splitting in half and opening up like a Lego model being disassembled and put back together in a new form. The moment the doorway was open, Overhaul, Chronostasis, Katsukame, and a small squad of five Yakuza Grunts marched into the room.
Overhaul took one look at the trashed kitchen (mainly the cracked walls), the destroyed security camera, the leftover splatters from Izumi's ink and blood tendrils, the decayed patches of floor from Izumi's final technique, and then the small puddle of vomit Izumi had brought up, before lifting his gaze to Izumi and Eri.
His face, mostly covered by his mask, was full of quiet fury. He focused his cold yellow eyes on Izumi, making her shudder.
"I want answers, girl, or you will suffer for this."
Next Chapter: One Trip is Not a Fall
To be Released: July 1st 2021
And there we have our first glimpse of Demon Izumi! It was brief and bloody, but now Izumi knows what she can become if she isn't careful! Her Demonic Powers are, as you may have guessed, the Brush Demon powers. Becoming corrupted also inverted her powers, just like it did for them. Also, just to explain it now, Izumi was able to use her powers due to them becoming Demonic. The Cursed Restraint only stops Divine Power, not Demonic.
Next chapter will deal with the full fallout of this transformation, both with Overhaul and within Izumi herself. It's going to be a major emotional episode!
Also, I've been waiting a very long time for Izumi to get her revenge on Roku-Ju! Demon Izumi didn't hold back even a little! I hope you guys found it satisfying, if a little messed up.
I hope you enjoyed! Please Comment and Review; it really encourages me!